Spring 1990, Volume One Box

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August 8, 2012 - 10:43am

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jq171(document).ready(function (jq171) { jq171("h2.product_title").each(function(){ var title = jq171(this); var new_title = title.text().replace(' - SOLD OUT', ''); title.text(new_title); }); var covertArtDownloadMarkup = 'Looking for the digital cover art? You can download it here.'; setTimeout(function() { jq171('#digital_cart').append(covertArtDownloadMarkup); }, 500); });
What's Inside:
• 60 page hardcover Smyth-Sewn book featuring essays by Dennis McNally, David Lemieux, and Blair Jackson and photos by Jim Anderson & Mike Laurentis
• 25th Anniversary Tour Program
• Official Band Letters
• 6 Ticket Stubs
• 6 Cloth Sticker Backstage Passes
• 1 Tour Laminate
• Official 1990 Band publicity shot
• 6 complete shows on 18 discs
      • 3/16/90 Capital Center, Landover, MD
      • 3/19/90 Civic Center, Hartford, CT
      • 3/22/90 Copps Coliseum, Hamilton, ON, Canada
      • 3/26/90 Knickerbocker Arena, Albany, NY
      • 3/30/90 Nassau Coliseum, Uniondale, NY
      • 4/2/90 The Omni, Atlanta, GA

Box Dimensions: 12-1/8" x 3-1/8" x 12-1/8"
Recorded and Mixed Live by John Cutler
Mastered by Jeffrey Norman in HDCD
Original art by Wes Lang
Individually Numbered, Limited Edition of 9,000

Introducing The Next Box: Spring 1990!

And now for something a little different. This year's box set - Grateful Dead: Spring 1990 - offers six complete shows from the epic spring '90 tour, one concert from each city the band played, personally selected by Dead vaultmeister and archival release producer David Lemieux. The sizzling six are: 3/16/90 Capital Centre (Landover , MD), 3/19/90 Hartford Civic Center, 3/22/90 Copps Coliseum (Hamilton, Ontario), 3/26/90 Knickerbocker Arena (Albany, NY), 3/30/90 Nassau Coliseum (Uniondale, NY) and 4/2/90 The Omni (Atlanta, GA).

In his "Producer's Note" in the beautiful book that is part of the box, Lemieux, who attended the first 10 shows on the tour, states, "To my ears this was the last tour that was consistently great, where every show is excellent, not a dud in the bunch." And Grateful Dead historian Dennis McNally's comprehensive and informative insider's essay in the box is titled "The Last Great Dead Tour." These guys know what they're talking about.

Basically, the band had been on an upward trajectory since Garcia's return to the road in the spring of '87, following his near-death the previous summer. Of course, 1987 was a trip in itself, what with the unexpected mega-success of In the Dark and their first hit single, "Touch of Grey." But the momentum just kept building with each subsequent tour, as Garcia got back up to full speed (and then some!) and the group as a whole was as unified as they had ever been since Brent joined the band in the spring of '79. New original tunes were popping up and the old favorites were imbued with a freshness and spirit that was so uplifting and inspiring. The band was having fun again, and it was downright infectious.

The group's fall 1989 shows-as documented two years ago on the Formerly the Warlocks box (two shows from Hampton, VA, 10/8-9/89) and on the 2001 release Nightfall of Diamonds (a single night in NJ, 10/16/89)- kicked the energy level up another couple of notches, as the band reintroduced such loved classics as "Help on the Way" > "Slipknot!," "Attics of My Life," "Death Don't Have No Mercy" and "Dark Star."

And when the band hit the road in mid-March 1990, they had a bunch of other cool tunes to lay on their unsuspecting crowds, including the return of "Loose Lucy" (last played in 1974; it's not on this box), Brent's "Easy to Love You" (missing since 1980), a rollicking cover of the Rolling Stones' "The Last Time," The Band's "The Weight" (with all four singers taking a verse each) and a lyrically retooled "Black-Throated Wind" (absent since 1974), which elicited huge cheers every time it was played.

Over these six shows, most of the cornerstones of the Dead's repertoire from the era appear-splendid versions of "Scarlet Begonias" > "Fire on the Mountain," "China Cat Sunflower" > "I Know You Rider," "Playing in the Band," "Uncle John's Band," "Eyes of the World," "Estimated Prophet," "Truckin'," "Sugar Magnolia," "The Other One," "Terrapin," "Stella Blue," "Feel Like a Stranger," "Bird Song," "Let It Grow," "China Doll," "Box of Rain," "Morning Dew"; you name it. From the fall '89 breakouts come "Help-Slip-Frank," "Attics of My Life" and "Death Don't Have No Mercy." Among the still newish tunes are "Picasso Moon," "Blow Away," "Foolish Heart," "Just a Little Light," "Victim or the Crime," "Standing on the Moon," "We Can Run" and a couple that would get their final plays from the Grateful Dead on this tour-"Built to Last" and "Believe It or Not." There are stirring renditions of "Dear Mr. Fantasy" and "Black Muddy River," rockin' takes on "Gimme Some Lovin'" and "Iko Iko" and the only version of the full "Hey Jude" the band attempted in the modern era. And the "Rhythm Devils" and "Space" jams at the heart of each second set are as noisy-beautiful-scary-funny-intense-mysterious-wild as you'd expect/hope for.

Of course, we understand that some of you may have other favorite shows from this tour you wish were included on this box. Really, you can't go wrong with any of them. But at 18 discs, this is still the second largest Grateful Dead box (after Europe '72: The Complete Recordings) that's been released, and the non-inclusion of any other shows from the tour definitely does not preclude their future release! But this seemed like a more manageable way to go, while still giving a sense of the tour's amazing depth and breadth.

Besides the discs themselves, Grateful Dead: Spring 1990 has much to offer, including: a gorgeous 60-page hardcover book containing copious color photos by Jim Anderson and Michael Laurentus, unique artwork by Brooklyn-based fine artist Wes Lang, fascinating business letters and communications related to the tour, a detailed historical essay by Dennis McNally, a Producer's Note by David Lemieux and individual show descriptions by Blair Jackson; a reproduction of the Dead's 1990 tour program (printed and sold later in '90, for the fall and Europe '90 tours); tickets and backstage passes of all six shows; a band publicity photo from 1990 by Ken Friedman; Dennis McNally's tour laminate; and reproductions of the colored 8x10 sheets GDTS sent out with hotel, food and other information for each city on the tour.

With recordings made by longtime Grateful Dead recordist and producer John Cutler, mastered by Jeffrey Norman in HDCD, you just know it's gonna sound great-and it does!

So, that's the skinny this time 'round. This box is limited to just 9,000 numbered copies - please note, this is the only time these shows will ever be officially available on CD. There will not be an All Music Edition and single shows will not be available physically. Due to ship out August 31st, we anticipate that this extraordinary set will sell-out, so order your copy today!

If you're looking for more of a bite-sized taste of the '90s, Spring 1990: So Glad You Made It, a 2-CD set featuring a handful of favorites, will be in stores on September 18th.

-Blair Jackson

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September 4, 2012 - 7:20am

#401

rbmunkin

Joined:
February 24, 2009

Quality

How would you answer my example in my first post about this:Do you seriously contend that Jerry isn't OBJECTIVELY a better guitarist than me? Comparing Van Gogh vs. Monet is much more difficult of course. I'm trying to make the point by using an absurd example, but a valid one. Personally I think we want to say quality is purely subjective because it's easier to say that. It's too difficult to show objective quality so we don't want to go there. But just because something is difficult doesn't mean it's not reality. This reminds me of the joke: A man is searching on the ground under a street lamp. Someone comes up and asks him if he lost something. He says yes, his keys. Did you lose them here? No, I lost them in the alley but it's too dark there. When looking for objective quality, one must look in the dark alley even though it's easier to see in the subjective lighted area.
September 3, 2012 - 11:38pm

#402

FootBear

Joined:
June 12, 2007

.

.
September 3, 2012 - 10:20pm

#403

antonjo

Joined:
June 4, 2007

that's back on topic?

Who got screwed out of their order is back on topic? Do tell, Footbear, who got screwed out of their order? What started out as a thread that was finally mostly about the music in the box has degenerated into another bile fest. Guess some people feel better having an audience. I'm about done with these boards, myself. Talk about disenchanted and disgusted...... Sheesh.
September 3, 2012 - 7:13pm

#404

Hoopsie

Joined:
January 5, 2012

Spring 1990

March 29, 1990 on VINYL, yes please.
September 3, 2012 - 7:10pm

#405

Hoopsie

Joined:
January 5, 2012

Spring 1990

In a vain effort to return the discussion to the excellent but somewhat inefficiently shipped box set -- I was only able to catch the boys from 85-95, so 89 and 90 stand out as the apex years, with Jerry sounding fresh and not so ragged and tired, and inspired ensemble playing. I am so glad to have this. It will be cherished for years. Wish I was able to catch 5-2-70, but I was still only 4! Geez, you people who were able to see these shows must be practically senior citizens by now! ;-) Now, if only they'd ship my replacement for the cracked Disc 3 of 3/16/90? See, I'm not bitter.
September 3, 2012 - 6:05pm

#406

Tanis Fane

Joined:
August 30, 2012

Quality _is_ subjective, no

Quality _is_ subjective, no matter how you describe it. The idea of one artist being more talented than another is subjective. Is Monet better than Van Gogh? Quality is, for most people, subjective to the price at bidding that has been established by people claiming authority to declare it such. Objectively, something is "good" or "bad" because it has been granted a more desirable status in a given framework. Social capital, if you will. You place great cultural capital in Jerry's playing and thus, for you, he is the best. The value I place on his playing, though high, is not as valuable for me as it is to you. I'd pay more for someone else. (Much as I value/love/geek-out-over the Grateful Dead and Pink Floyd, VU is still, for me, minted from the most valuable coin music/art provides.) You are correct about my mis-attribution of the "bold"-ness, that was someone else calling it that. My mistake. :) But the comparison of Pigpen dying and the band continuing vs. Jerry dying and not continuing, isn't a fair one. The first, a member dies while everyone in the band is still under 30 years of age. When they're all around 50, another one dies after 30 years together. Economics and age played as much a role in that. And then, as you said and I agree, even when the "tribute" bands contained all members but Jerry, it wasn't the same. But neither was a JGB show anything like a GD concert. I'm not attempting to convince you, or anyone, to alter their opinions. You've made a great case as to JG being your favorite guitarist, and that is a valid opinion and reasoning you have. Declare one better than another when you reach a level of quality and performance between Clapton (whom I think is not as favorable as JJ Cale), Hendrix, Garcia, and let's say... Carlos Santana. Who is better? Depends on the night, the performance, the song. Ask most musicians, especially of an age to have seen a taster's choice of Great Guitarist, and Hendrix will, for good reason, be often cited as the best. I think Hendrix was a Beethoven-level musician. Making Garcia a Liszt-level guitarist, doesn't take anything away from him at all. Two entirely different styles, backgrounds, and intentions from each in what they attempted to do musically. Hendrix deliberately complicated his music as he progressed, while Garcia often spoke of enjoying simpler-constructions because it enabled the ability to freely improvise upon it. Personally, I think it's great that you are passionate about this. It's music, and musicians are people we turn to to share the most intimate aspects of our lives: when we're joyous, when we're depressed, when we're furious about blah, blah, or blah. I personally don't think of the ears of the Dead as one being better than another. Nothin' gets me goin' like a scorching rampage through The Eleven (which didn't happen after 70-71), but paring Scarlet & Fire couldn't have happened before 77. Terrapin is easily the most often played live song for me, but that's because there was only a single version of, and terribly recorded, Rosemary. Because they did what they did and continually evolved in their sound and performance, they've given us this huge palette from which we all, evidently, paint our own pictures of the past and what we want them to be for us, and some of these paintings we call masterpieces.
September 3, 2012 - 4:06pm

#407

rbmunkin

Joined:
February 24, 2009

subjective/objective

Quality is not purely subjective. No way to prove it to you in words. So I'll stop here. "And without the GD, Jerry wouldn’t be known outside of some audiophiliac music fiends." Nonsense! He was a musician extraordinare and his passion would move him toward notoriety one way or another. He didn't need the Dead, he CREATED the Dead. And he would have done something no matter who he worked with. Hunter and Garcia met completely independent of the Dead. "Jerry without the Dead mostly likely wouldn’t have had Hunter as a song-writing partner, thus none of these songs would have come about." Of course the same exact songs wouldn't have come about, but I certainly wouldn't have cared. All I would care about is hearing Jerry, no matter what he did, because he was GREAT and would have been no matter what. "Favorites are favorites for damn good reasons. But yours are no more objectively the best than mine," I never said that. I said art is not just subjective; that there is an objective component. I never said MY likes were any more objective than any one else's. "You can congratulate yourself all you want for “bold statements” (Jerry is the greatest guitarist is hardly a bold statement on Dead.net." I didn't call it "bold". Another poster did. Anyway, we can agree to disagree. At least we agree about Donna! One more thing: With all the personell changes, the Grateful Dead were great, even after losing Pigpen, and all the other keyboardist they lost, as well as when Mickey was gone. Then when Jerry was gone - poof. No good any more. They didn't continue because they couldn't. But anyone else they lost Jerry could have kept the band going. The post Jerry band called "The Dead" and then "Further"; I'm sorry but they sucked compared to the Grateful Dead. Jerry made the GD, he was the GD, and could have created a great band with any good musicians.
September 3, 2012 - 3:03pm

#408

Tanis Fane

Joined:
August 30, 2012

Opinions are still subjective

So, RBMunkin, In the spirit of analytic debate, he's a response contrary to a number of your "bold" statements. Your analyzing note-by-note and what-have-you, doesn’t mark you as any less subjective than Best Of polls by whomever. Your liking Jerry's guitar work better than anyone else's is one thing, but no matter how much note-by-note comparisons you make, it doesn’t elevate your opinion to the level of objective. “Without Jerry the phenomenon of the Grateful Dead never would have gotten past small clubs if that.” And without the GD, Jerry wouldn’t be known outside of some audiophiliac music fiends. Considering they all talked about how essential each one of them was to the whole, and based their entire musical philosophy around that, you’re deconstructing the Dead is a great theoretic exercise, but one that misunderstands the overall point of the collective being more important aurally than the individual components. “Robert Hunter was a great poet. He's my second favorite Dead.” Absolutely a great poet. Also one who likely would have never written with Jerry without the GD. Hunter knew Kesey from the Menlo Park research. Kesey knew the Dead through Owsley. The Dead played through the Acid Tests. Without that connection, probably no song-writing team of Hunter/Garcia. “Phil was a great musician in many ways but never would have gotten so popular without Jerry.” Maybe. Is Brian Eno “popular”? Is John Cale? Robert Fripp? Phil would have likely progressed along those experimental lines without the GD. “Bob, meh. Very good rhythm guitarist, taught largely by Jerry. Vocals, song writing, and personality - not my cup of tea. He was always jealous of Jerry being the front man. He wanted to be the front man but just plain old didn't have the talent or personality.” Did he now? Good to know. I never thought he was a great guitar player, nor a great song writer, but he did pen the music of Sugar Mag, Looks Like Rain, and belt out a mean Minglewood. GD wouldn’t have been without this finger on the hand. “Drummers - very good but the Dead could have gone on with different ones.” And the sound of “rolling thunder” wouldn’t be. Thus, no Dead as we know it. No Scarlet>Fire, no PITB. “Keyboards - Pigpen was the only GREAT one.”  Not so. But you can believe that all you wish. Pigpen had charisma and was a “stone jack baller and his heart was true” but he couldn’t play piano very well. He blew a mean nasty dirty mouth harp, but his musical ability didn’t span a great spectrum. Keith was quite proficient on piano but limited on organ and the encroaching diversity and array of keyboards. Any discussion of Brent is for another time. “Donna - OMG why was she ever in the Dead?! Just horrible. Sounded like a bag full of cats being hit with a bat. Okay on a couple of studio albums but ruined many a live concert recording.” I agree, but then there a couple of Eyes of the World and Sugar Mag she doesn’t sound bad on. I usually skip tunes if she gets gonna too much. Jerry without the Dead mostly likely wouldn’t have had Hunter as a song-writing partner, thus none of these songs would have come about. Talented as he was, he would likely have been a bit like Ry Cooder, Al Di Meola, and such ilk. Infinitely talented and diverse, but without a band, they go through the ages being treasured by a few, liked by some more, and unknown to most. As for “Hendrix to me was a bit one-sided. The overall sound always sounded a bit the same. Absolutely amazing but limited IMHO” … I think your lack of analyses is demonstrated lacking here. Y’know, cuz 1983 sounds sooooo much like Purple Haze. And Jimi with a 12-string acoustic is the same one-sided sound as when slaughtered ear drums at Monterey with the opening riff of Killing Floor. Favorites are favorites for damn good reasons. But yours are no more objectively the best than mine, VH-1s, or Rolling Stones polls from readers who can’t remember back any further than last summer’s hot thing. You can congratulate yourself all you want for “bold statements” (Jerry is the greatest guitarist is hardly a bold statement on Dead.net. And your argument lacks anything beyond your talk of how awesome you feel when you listen to him play. He’s great. But talk of the “best” is beyond the faculties at hand. Or… ehem… ear. P.S. If anyone is interested in might-have-beens with music, check out a novel called Glimpses by Lewis Shiner. A guy puts on his headphones and hears records by his favorite bands that never were: a Doors album post-LA Woman, Beach Boys beyond Brian Wilson's mental collapse, another Beatles record... that kind of thing.
September 3, 2012 - 2:57pm

#409

streetvan1997

Joined:
September 16, 2009

Also, if you know they are going to sell out so fast make more!

I don't have much money at all in this point in my life and it really stinks I can't take advantage of items like this. But all the T shirts are sold out and all the box sets. Is it fans or people who are going to sell them on eBay?
September 3, 2012 - 2:50pm

#410

streetvan1997

Joined:
September 16, 2009

Also where's 3-29-90!!

Isn't that the Bradford Marcalis show? Did I butcher his last names spelling . The eyes of the works from that 3-29 is so sick, but I think it's on Dozin at the Nick

John Perry Barlow

John Perry Barlow

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What's Inside:
• 60 page hardcover Smyth-Sewn book featuring essays by Dennis McNally, David Lemieux, and Blair Jackson and photos by Jim Anderson & Mike Laurentis
• 25th Anniversary Tour Program
• Official Band Letters
• 6 Ticket Stubs
• 6 Cloth Sticker Backstage Passes
• 1 Tour Laminate
• Official 1990 Band publicity shot
• 6 complete shows on 18 discs
      • 3/16/90 Capital Center, Landover, MD
      • 3/19/90 Civic Center, Hartford, CT
      • 3/22/90 Copps Coliseum, Hamilton, ON, Canada
      • 3/26/90 Knickerbocker Arena, Albany, NY
      • 3/30/90 Nassau Coliseum, Uniondale, NY
      • 4/2/90 The Omni, Atlanta, GA

Box Dimensions: 12-1/8" x 3-1/8" x 12-1/8"
Recorded and Mixed Live by John Cutler
Mastered by Jeffrey Norman in HDCD
Original art by Wes Lang
Individually Numbered, Limited Edition of 9,000

Introducing The Next Box: Spring 1990!

And now for something a little different. This year's box set - Grateful Dead: Spring 1990 - offers six complete shows from the epic spring '90 tour, one concert from each city the band played, personally selected by Dead vaultmeister and archival release producer David Lemieux. The sizzling six are: 3/16/90 Capital Centre (Landover , MD), 3/19/90 Hartford Civic Center, 3/22/90 Copps Coliseum (Hamilton, Ontario), 3/26/90 Knickerbocker Arena (Albany, NY), 3/30/90 Nassau Coliseum (Uniondale, NY) and 4/2/90 The Omni (Atlanta, GA).

In his "Producer's Note" in the beautiful book that is part of the box, Lemieux, who attended the first 10 shows on the tour, states, "To my ears this was the last tour that was consistently great, where every show is excellent, not a dud in the bunch." And Grateful Dead historian Dennis McNally's comprehensive and informative insider's essay in the box is titled "The Last Great Dead Tour." These guys know what they're talking about.

Basically, the band had been on an upward trajectory since Garcia's return to the road in the spring of '87, following his near-death the previous summer. Of course, 1987 was a trip in itself, what with the unexpected mega-success of In the Dark and their first hit single, "Touch of Grey." But the momentum just kept building with each subsequent tour, as Garcia got back up to full speed (and then some!) and the group as a whole was as unified as they had ever been since Brent joined the band in the spring of '79. New original tunes were popping up and the old favorites were imbued with a freshness and spirit that was so uplifting and inspiring. The band was having fun again, and it was downright infectious.

The group's fall 1989 shows-as documented two years ago on the Formerly the Warlocks box (two shows from Hampton, VA, 10/8-9/89) and on the 2001 release Nightfall of Diamonds (a single night in NJ, 10/16/89)- kicked the energy level up another couple of notches, as the band reintroduced such loved classics as "Help on the Way" > "Slipknot!," "Attics of My Life," "Death Don't Have No Mercy" and "Dark Star."

And when the band hit the road in mid-March 1990, they had a bunch of other cool tunes to lay on their unsuspecting crowds, including the return of "Loose Lucy" (last played in 1974; it's not on this box), Brent's "Easy to Love You" (missing since 1980), a rollicking cover of the Rolling Stones' "The Last Time," The Band's "The Weight" (with all four singers taking a verse each) and a lyrically retooled "Black-Throated Wind" (absent since 1974), which elicited huge cheers every time it was played.

Over these six shows, most of the cornerstones of the Dead's repertoire from the era appear-splendid versions of "Scarlet Begonias" > "Fire on the Mountain," "China Cat Sunflower" > "I Know You Rider," "Playing in the Band," "Uncle John's Band," "Eyes of the World," "Estimated Prophet," "Truckin'," "Sugar Magnolia," "The Other One," "Terrapin," "Stella Blue," "Feel Like a Stranger," "Bird Song," "Let It Grow," "China Doll," "Box of Rain," "Morning Dew"; you name it. From the fall '89 breakouts come "Help-Slip-Frank," "Attics of My Life" and "Death Don't Have No Mercy." Among the still newish tunes are "Picasso Moon," "Blow Away," "Foolish Heart," "Just a Little Light," "Victim or the Crime," "Standing on the Moon," "We Can Run" and a couple that would get their final plays from the Grateful Dead on this tour-"Built to Last" and "Believe It or Not." There are stirring renditions of "Dear Mr. Fantasy" and "Black Muddy River," rockin' takes on "Gimme Some Lovin'" and "Iko Iko" and the only version of the full "Hey Jude" the band attempted in the modern era. And the "Rhythm Devils" and "Space" jams at the heart of each second set are as noisy-beautiful-scary-funny-intense-mysterious-wild as you'd expect/hope for.

Of course, we understand that some of you may have other favorite shows from this tour you wish were included on this box. Really, you can't go wrong with any of them. But at 18 discs, this is still the second largest Grateful Dead box (after Europe '72: The Complete Recordings) that's been released, and the non-inclusion of any other shows from the tour definitely does not preclude their future release! But this seemed like a more manageable way to go, while still giving a sense of the tour's amazing depth and breadth.

Besides the discs themselves, Grateful Dead: Spring 1990 has much to offer, including: a gorgeous 60-page hardcover book containing copious color photos by Jim Anderson and Michael Laurentus, unique artwork by Brooklyn-based fine artist Wes Lang, fascinating business letters and communications related to the tour, a detailed historical essay by Dennis McNally, a Producer's Note by David Lemieux and individual show descriptions by Blair Jackson; a reproduction of the Dead's 1990 tour program (printed and sold later in '90, for the fall and Europe '90 tours); tickets and backstage passes of all six shows; a band publicity photo from 1990 by Ken Friedman; Dennis McNally's tour laminate; and reproductions of the colored 8x10 sheets GDTS sent out with hotel, food and other information for each city on the tour.

With recordings made by longtime Grateful Dead recordist and producer John Cutler, mastered by Jeffrey Norman in HDCD, you just know it's gonna sound great-and it does!

So, that's the skinny this time 'round. This box is limited to just 9,000 numbered copies - please note, this is the only time these shows will ever be officially available on CD. There will not be an All Music Edition and single shows will not be available physically. Due to ship out August 31st, we anticipate that this extraordinary set will sell-out, so order your copy today!

If you're looking for more of a bite-sized taste of the '90s, Spring 1990: So Glad You Made It, a 2-CD set featuring a handful of favorites, will be in stores on September 18th.

-Blair Jackson

transaction details

hey all, you had better read the transaction details on this site before you plop down your cash, they have covered every base and dotted every eye and crossed every tee to make sure that they get their money, reguardless, let the buyer beware.

I Was at the Knick!!!

I was at the Knickerbocker in Albany! The show was awesome, I can't wait to hear the Dupree again!, I remember some members of the crowd were pretty unruly. Some guy smashed a beer bottle on the windshield of of an Albany PD Cruiser, right in front of where we parked. I spent a half hour convincing the cops my buddy and myself were cool drive and that we did not know the bottle breaking idiot. Peace Happy B-day Jerry!!!

Jerry would never!

"Jerry would never!" Yup, some guy on a comment board knows best what Garcia would think -- that makes perfect sense! SimonRob, you make perfect sense regarding the pricing. But we are a very entitled bunch of whiners, so it will fall on our deaf ears.

Excellent Surprise

I was very happy to see the email announcing this box set arrive in my inbox today. I've always loved the spring/summer tour of '90 as that included my first show. The 24-track recording was plucked mainly from this tour for 'Without a Net' and the sound of that release had always defined for me the epitome of early '90's Grateful Dead. It has an energy, fullness, and creativity that sounded always crisp and enthusiastic - from the Terrapin limited release to Without a Net, Nightfall of Diamonds and Dozin at the Knick - they all paint a pretty accurate picture of the awesome playing that was going on at that time. Although like many posting here I, too, have several of these shows in good digital form, but i will always look forward to having the real deal. For those who seem to complain about new releases at each opportunity, my advice is to just not buy them if it is going to cause such a negative experience for you. thankfully i like to think those people are the minority of those fans who love the music and understand the workings of free enterprise and an excellent product that you can collect and have for generations to enjoy down the road. Cant wait to get mine - i have learned (thankfully not the heard way, but by reading many posts here) to scoop these up when they hit my inbox otherwise i might lose out. Thankfully i was able to jump on the Europe '72 Box and i have been a happy happy man ever since. Keep the good music coming. And thanks.

WRT the Ubuntu issue

Our tech wizard suggests downloading,installiing chromium from the ubuntu software center, which should solve the problem.

Extra show

Having watched DLs video I see that it will also be possible to assemble the compleete show of March 24 1990 from the bonus tracks on Show 4 of tihs set, plus Dozin' at the Knick (Walkin Blues, all of Disc 2 and Disc 3 1-6), Without a Net (OMSN) and Postcards from the Hanging (Desolation Row).

Fricken Sweet!

Being that initially when I first got news of this release today, I was kind of bummed at the limited status of this, the cost of this release and my current limited fundages, and the prospect of missing out on another FW '69 quality and historically important run of shows. That is until a friend and true brother-from-another-mutha has ordered an extra copy of this set for me! Sweeeet! Especially so because 4/2/90 was such a great show, and I was there! Even though I am getting this box set, I wish tptb would reconsider the limitations of 9000 units and that these shows won't be available individually. I also believe they would easily sell more than twice the 9000 units number of these particular shows.

two cents repeated

I wrote the initial "two cents" comment but neglected to include my user name because I assumed it would just naturally appear. My user name is below. Just like people knew that people would "kvetch" and "bitch" and "whine," I knew that people would attack the people who expressed their dismay or criticized, critiqued or complained about the release. No one attacks those who love the release, but those who love it try to shout down those that don't. I don't understand that. And the name calling is ridiculous. Did your mothers not teach you not to call other people names? This space isn't just for praising the release; it is also for the opposite. More power to those that love the release (although it is just going to encourage higher priced releases-if we would refuse to pay what they demanded, prices would go down). Spring 90 is a good tour, very good to great if you compare it to any tour after Jan/Feb '78 in my opinion. The artwork looks very nice. Re: the price comparison of Europe 72 and this release (more than $5.50 per disc difference), the fact that there is more junk and less discs does not justify that increase. So I do not think that SimonRob makes perfect sense. Re: comparing the Winterland boxes (10 discs each, approx $100 each) and this, yeah, they are similar, they were overpriced too, I complained about the price then (comparing them to Fillmore West '69 which was appro $70 total), but overlooked it and bought them anyways. I was in the "I owe them" phase then, and I don't blame anyone who is still in that phase. I want to buy shows from dead.net, just not at this price. Re: 9000, I think it will sell out, probably within a few days or a week. dstache

downloads

Regarding "did you see downloads of "Winterland, Europe '72,etc?"...I saw every single one of those uploaded at CD ripped quality.

Glad The Music Is Out There

I have order this and have bought others! My first time to see the Grateful Dead was 1984 in Provedence, R.I.. I got to see them several more times. I have seen them as the Other Ones and as The Dead. Now they are out there as The Further. I wish they would do at least one more huge tour as The Grateful Dead. But until that happens I have the shows from the past that I did not get the chance to see. I would just be happy with the CD's and not all the rest, but it's all good. What A Long Strange Trip It's Been!!!!!

not attacked?

On the contrary, if you like the release, you are an ass-kisser, or probably just super rich and, unlike those who *really* care about the music, you're just into material possessions by implication. Yeah, sure. There are no attacks on those who like the release. Please.

I saw

"I saw every single one of those uploaded at CD ripped quality." Not talking about stealing the releases, as some always will, talking about official downloads.

folks, just checking

1. We think we have the Canada shipping thing fixed, but lemme know if this is not the case. 2. I'm seeing user names with posts just fine; if you are not, please PM me with the specifics. Thanks much.

Happy Birthday Jerry!!!

No whining here. I am not rich but I will shell out some doe for this. Some times this comment board sounds like a bunch of angry old farts. If you don't like don't buy it! For me, Its like Christmas morning in the middle of summer. Thank you Thank you Thank you!!!

Here it is...!

Another attractive money grab from all the suits and lawyers over at what is left of Rhino!

a new style thread

does not make a new shopping experience. sorry rhino, you can't fool me again. i'll wait for somebody to rip the discs for me.

No complaints

To paraphrase Fat Freddy and Freewheelin' Franklin, Dead will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no Dead. Ok, I have other Dead to listen to, so it's not like I'd starve

Hey There, Fellow International Patrons

Having read of the seemingly-endless woes of non-US Deadheads as they wait for their shipments to arrive (most recently the '72 set, which prompted untold angst), I now find myself a member of your club. I recently moved from the US to Singapore and am fretting a bit that I may experience the same difficulties many of you have had. It took two months and 15 e-mails to Dr. Rhino to change over my Dave's Picks address, and I'll know soon if that worked (Vol. 3 is on the way). And I just placed my first direct international order for the new box set, and happily, the system didn't seem at all flustered as it pondered my new SE Asian address. The shipping charges total US$35.95, but if the package arrives in good shape and prior to Armageddon, I'll be content.

I Don't Have The Dough But Nice!

Wow, really cool release. I'm sure that poster is gonna be an amazing collectors item too. I remember this tour, not particularly shows on this leg live, but rather the ones I remember on tapes. I'm really excited to get home and listen to this. As for the ripping and stuff, I know for a fact, that owning these kind of things and enjoying the insert articles, posters, cool stuff is like a pandoras box of treasure in time. One can't fathom the powerful memories that can be released with the Good' Lovin' Extras. Don't have the dough, but still heading towards the sunshine on this release. Thank you Rhino and Dead.Net, GD Family for this one.

re: Canada shipping

Hi Mary - i just started reading all the posts pertaining to the New Spring 90 Box. in your post, you mention something about hope the shipping to Canada is fixed I pre-ordered this before your email post, my shipping charge was $27.95 -> What should be the shipping charge to Canada? If it is different, how do i get a credit for the shipping thanks, joe

Aww, I shouldn't but...

I definitely shouldn't drop $200 on a box set, but since I've been hoping for some more late Brent-era releases and have a forgiving wife, what the hell. I'm excited about the music here, plain and simple. My shelves are bursting with '68-'79 Dead and I've had a hankering for the full, fat, powerful sound the band developed in the late 80s, when I shed my diapers and got onboard. While I love the photos and essays, I really couldn't care less about the other hoopla, and I too would like to revert back to the old DP days when a show was...what...$20? But clearly that's not happening. As far as I'm concerned, the band worked their asses off for over 20 years before they had any commercial success, and now in their old age they can collect for that labor. Ain't nothing wrong with that.

Hey Joe, I'd pm Marye for

Hey Joe, I'd pm Marye for this one. Hope it works out for you.Gratefulness is Bliss.

Beautiful news on a Beautiful day

How can anyone complain. These guys gave us their lives. They aren't allowed to make money ??People complaining about corporate this,money this. This set is worth every cent. The Dead and Rhino have always put out quality stuff. I have hundreds of free downloads,tapes,etc..the band has always been very giving..Keep these beautiful sets coming. This will sell out quick. Thanks again and Happy BD to JER

Good news

I'll wait for the 1991 release.

Gimme a break !

What a bunch of cry babies ! Oh I don' t like this tour..or Oh it's too expensive. Just shut the hell up already ! If you don' t like it, don't buy it, it's that frickin simple ! You people make me sick with all your complaining.

The Universe will reimburse me....

Ahhh, just like old times to partake in a good old-fashioned Grateful Dead Debate! And in the spirit of the original Beatsters (from which Jerry and the Boys evolved from ) I'd like to throw my 2 cents (...er, $199.00) into the hat to help stoke a respectable, peaceful discussion on ethics and philosophy. Like most if not all of you, my love for the Grateful Dead is unconditional. As a music lover but also a musician and artist, it is on a cellular level. To put a price on the meaningfulness of this experience is impossible, yet paradoxically a made-in-heaven scenario for those in control of marketing this precious commodity. Equally paradoxical is the very philosophy that so many Deadheads hold; that this priceless entity be made available to the masses if not for free, then as cheaply as possible or to be bartered. That being said, my personal feelings are based on my life experience. I have always strove to work very hard and be the very best at what I do as a creator, while always connecting to others from my heart through my work. As a result, I have enjoyed making a comfortable enough living to be able to experience over 50 live Dead concerts, not via the iconic Microbus or auto caravan, but mostly by Jet air travel. Not because I am a snob or enjoy polluting the atmosphere (which I was unconscious of at the time) but simply put: I cannot do what I do and be on Tour with The Dead. That's the Beauty of Grateful Dead: an All American tradition that includes all life styles. Yet the $200+ pricetag for this set would definitely suggest exclusion to most, wouldn't it? Perhaps, from the view of those in a static earning position. But as an artist who retails my own work at what some might consider unaccessible prices while other collectors gladly throw down, it's all a question of personal value and personal 'values'. To put it simply: Regardless of one's earning ability (or choice) they can choose to avoid buying this either on principal or lack of funds; and if the latter is true, resort to that age-old principal of finding a way to earn it or save up for it...(as I myself have done with things I think are 'out of my reach', which is a poo-poo belief system!) Anyway, to get off the soap box, there will be a 2-disc 'digest' of this in September for the naysayers. As for me, the memories of that tour, the music, places,faces, good times are too precious; and regardless of the ethics of Dave/Rhino I believe the Universe will reimburse me for every penny thrown down on this Joy-producing collection that regardless of the high price, I am Grateful that is available to my ears forever!

Looks great!!

Can't wait to get my hands on this. I really loved the band with Brent.. RIP..

Hey Jude>Dear Mr. Fantasy>Hey Jude

I was reading through the set lists and came across the 3/22/90 list from Hamilton, Ontario that includes Hey Jude>Dear Mr. Fantasy>Hey Jude. That sounds familiar...I used to have that tape. I guess I still have it in one of those boxes of cassette tapes that I have stored away. That was a good show...I remember that one. I could dig out the tape, but I find I never listen to the old tapes any more because there's so many great-sounding official releases. But occasionally it's good to hear an old audience tape and get the feel of being there. Different topic - I agree with the comment about having these on vinyl, but can you imagine the expense? I think it would be a lot more. Would be nice to have an album cover to hold in my hand and peruse while listening...Did Bear's Choice get re-released on vinyl? I saw it in Grimey's vinyl top 20 for last week...

Is this release a new mix from the multitrack?

Do we know if these are new mixes from the multis?

Nice product

Nice boxed set ... product. I don't much care for all the "stuff" that came with the E72 set but I have to remember that this is a product and not just "the music". I'm glad some complete shows from this era is being officially released. It's good music and it's overdue. I'm looking forward to hearing this.

A mighty release

I only saw the two Hartford shows on this tour but the 3/19/90 is one of the best shows they played. It would be in my top 10 for sure. It has the definative version of Foolish Heart, much better than the RFK from later in the summer. I always loved the Atlanta run as well. It looks like they have added lots of goodies to sweeten the pot. I am jumping for this one for sure.Dave we love you but you need cue cards brother :) Post cards of the edge featuring Desolation Row, not Masterpiece..gasp!!!!

let them eat downloads...

Yes, actually there were. A "good friend of mine" was able to find and download the Complete Fillmore West '69 box set (the rarest box of them all), the Complete Europe '72 box (all 73 CDs!), the 1990 Warlocks box, the Beyond Description box, the entire Road Trips series, the entire Dick's Picks series, the So Many Roads box set, both Dave's Picks releases, etc. He already had the Winterland '73 and '77 boxes, but those are out there as well. By next week, one will be able to find a download for Dave's Picks 3, and by September I have no doubt that the entire 18 CDs from this set will be available somewhere. There is no practical way to control it. The digital genie is out of the bottle and he ain't going back in. So this is for the memorabilia-fetishists and die-hard collectors. And Rhino only has to push 9,000 of them, which is nothing, grossing them a cool $1.8 million dollars from just this one release. Those of us who can live without the replica Dennis McNally laminate and beer coasters already have these shows, or can easily acquire them.

Source Info?

Are these from multitracks? If so, it will be a nice upgrade from what already circulates.

be careful what you wish for...

to be honest this box was way more than i wanted to spend, but after constantly bitching about there being too many '70s dead releases, i felt i owed it to them. i really am happy with the shows selected. however, it would have been nice to get at least one 'shakedown street'. i ordered within the first 30 minutes. hopefully, the limited edition number reflects this. not the shipping method chosen.

American Indian Cover Art

I echo the comments of whoever (Dred something? I can't find the post on a second scan of the thread) asked about the problems associated with portraying a skeleton in a seemingly Cherokee-style headdress. For the Big Pow Wow RT release, I understood T.C.'s liner notes about the sympatico vibe between the heads and Seminole land and traditions, but I think we have to be cautious in coopting native imagery, lest we end up profiting from an imaginary relationship with indigenous people, a la Jim Morrison and many others. In the best of cases, I suppose the communal and spiritual ways of heads owes something to indigenous nations, but Dred raises some important questions.

Looking forward to this release

As far as I am concerned people can find the shows in soundboard format very easily online so complaining about the price tag is a moot point. If you are like me and are a bit of an audiophile then getting these shows in multi-track remastered awesomeness atroughly $12 bucks a disk is hardly a burden. Yes CD's should be cheaper. Yes they should offer a downloadable option like Phish and other bands do. However I am of the opinion that the guys who do the work like Lemieux etc.. are very aware of the criticism and are trying to find creative ways to "add value" with these box sets. Enjoy the music.

It's all about the music

I have mixed feelings about this release. For one, after the Europe '72 debacle about what was promised in the initial press about what it would be and what it would contain, I am hesitant to buy again. Fool me once, shame on you mindset. But this one looks a little better prepared than that one, so that looks promising. I remember missing out on the first Fillmore West 10 disc set, and how much those are selling for now. Since then I've scrimped and saved to get all the official releases. Not that I like all of them, but it's about the music. The band shares so much of what they have with us, allowing taping and all, I feel that it is the least that I can do to repay them by purchasing their official releases. Yeah, I know the suits and lawyers at Rhino are screwing us all over, but that's life in corporate America. My only regret is that I wish the band members were a little more involved in the releases, in all aspects, including the cost. I'm sure they would do us all right.

Value

If this release was the product of a new, multi-track mixing effort, I'm sure that information would be included in the description. So what we have here are some live to 2-track tapes, spruced up in a hurry by Jeff Norman and offered at a premium price. The trend is to put as little effort into the production as the Heads will tolerate (E 72 box for example, with its rushed and flawed mix) and see what the market will bear. This is a test. The retail cost per audio value goes up and up. Where do you (where do I) draw the line? I'll buy this one because I have all the rest and I appreciate the packaging and the fact that we even have the opportunity. At the same time I am REALLY burned that more effort is not made to ensure that the best possible audio product reaches the loyal consumers. Shame! I have no qualms with the good, old American free market but the rip-off increases with every release. And this from supposed hippies! Greed. Get used to it. It's only going to get worse.

2 points

1. i'm not really sure why people are assuming the sound quality will be lackluster. 2. many people claim to be audiophiles, but most can't tell the difference between the various degrees of high end audio production. its quite hilarious when you think about it. you don't ever encounter people claiming to have better than 20/20 vision just to impress upon others.

Sonic Paradise

To the best of my knowledge, the Spring of 1990, along with the latter half of 1989, was recorded on multi-track tapes. This is a new mix, with every effort to make it sound as great as possible. Listening to The Warlocks Box, the sonic glory of multi-track material reveals itself like a flash of audio lightning.

Should be fun

This was the last of the great tours of this era. The summer tour was good and had some great spots in it, but to me the highlight of my dead experience was at copps. That shit was pure magic, when that show ended, people were crying everywhere. The experience was never captured on tape to my knowledge. The albany shows were good, but the real shit happened in canada. It was kinda ironic because there was a huge drought of "fun supplies" because of the widespread fear and rumors on crossing the border. Haha!

multi-tracks, multi-shows, multi-smiles

Yeah, when Terrapin Limited came out, I thought it was about the best sounding release I'd ever heard ~ and we'd always considered that the weak night of the three! It cleaned up very nice (and our seats weren't the best for sound.) Very psyched that one of the "other" nights ~ my favorite of the stand ~ is being released. "Black Throated" was a particular joy, as Bob never resurrected his classics once he put them away, and my friend Dean and I had just debated before the lights went down whether we'd rather see him bring out "Lazy Lightning" or "Black Throated Wind." Then, of course, the church version of "Blow Away," where Jerry himself enticed us to clap along, even he was that moved. Earlier that same evening in the parking lot, Dean had the bright idea to trade our extras for 3rd night Nassau (hated to lose the chance to "miracle" someone, but it sounded like a good train to catch). Our boss graciously supported the idea, so up we went. I still remember Dean's crestfallen face when he saw what they'd played already, the previous two nights. He needn't have worried. I, for one, am utterly psyched that David chose 3/30, much less heralded than the Branford-flavored previous night but what a gem. First set could've been louder from the rafters, but opened with my first Help On the Way (finally!); Dire Wolf was always a treat; and another was Phil singing "going back to New York City" in NYC : ) We scored VIP seats for the second set, with the Playin -> China Doll -> Uncle John's and a fully realized Standing On the Moon (complete with guitar solo unlike '89 versions, Jerry bestowing it with the mark of his classic ballads).....sweetness indeed. And the sweetest sugar was to come ~ the Attics encore left us speechless. The harmonies, and music, were impossibly tight. The last time I'd see Brent, as it happened : ( Can't wait to tell my brother ~ who made the Hamilton trek ~ that one of "his" Copps shows is finally being released! Maybe these aren't the sickest shows ever, but they were solid, the energy couldn't be beat, and in my own personal trajectory this was the last tour I dropped everything for ~ kind of the last bloom of my "golden" show-going years, where the band mattered to me more than anything else going on. I'd never do a Dead road-trip again (well, not till New Year's 2003). Anyway, sorry for the novella. I LOVE this box format of a show from each stop ~ I think it's just the right amount to document such a tour. Wish they'd have squeezed 3/14's Crazy Fingers -> Playin' set opener onto disc 3 of 3/16 (a la the Albany bonus filler), but hey we could always wish for more and I think it's great that there's bonus filler on one of them. (For the piece-mealers, Estimated from 3/21 Copps is released on Weir Here, hadn't heard that mentioned below.) Thanks, people. Fun release, and I love those 60-page hardbound coffee table books.....

Well sh*t

I just had my entire post erased, awesome. Anyway, I was at 2 of these shows, this was the last of the golden era. Copps was magical, the essence of those shows in canada never made it to tape, from what I have heard of them. This was truly a special event, people were crying and embracing like I'd never seen anywhere at a show. The band was possessed. It was an experience I'll never forget.

diamount

Yeah, my brother has always gushed about Copps, what a special scene it was......and I believe they actually drove their "goodies" right over the border, to boot. A carload of undisguised longhairs, go figure. Guess the vibes really were that special! Looking forward to hearing a whole Hamilton show in superb quality...... (and just played David's videos ~ NOW I know why no other fillers...they're keeping the other shows on ice for very possible future release.)

Huh?

Europe '72 debacle? WTF? Is there nothing that people won't complain about?

brent ruled...

the cap center run was 3 of the first 15 shows i saw. if i didn't know any better, i woulda said it was mydland's band. christ, the energy-jerry fed offa him like a sponge. the interplay was unbelievable. march, 1990. if you were there, you know. if you weren't, well, buy this or find it on the net and listen to that transition between scarlet-fire from copps. mind melter. happy bday fatman.

Jerry Is Spinning

WELL JERRY, I know you didn't think it would ever come to this. They are using your birthday to sell overproduced packages at inflated prices. The Grateful Dead were always a multi-tiered user experience. We all experienced it on different levels. 22 years after this music was played some of us will experience this music again in this form or another. BUT, JERRY, I know you'd not of approved of the way this was released, whatever form it has taken. Bunch of hucksters. We now return to the eternal debate - rip those scraps apart!

Oh Brent.....:(

Love the Dead but the Dead with Brent Mydland singing, reminds me of Michael McDonald of the Doobie Brothers....

shipping costs

Well this seems weird. Tried to pre-order the 2 CD version at $16.99 but the shipping cost came up as almost $35 - making it just under $52 for these two little discs to find their way to Australia. I don't get it - we have a military alliance with America and we gave President Obama the royal treatment when he came here ... plus we gave you Russel Crowe, Errol Flynn, AC/DC and Mel Gibson (we don't want him back by the way). So it doesn't seem fair! I think the may be a problem with the shipping cost - anyone else have this issue?

I KNOW Everyone is Going to Bitch About Something....

So, here's my own bitch.... Having an Atlanta Omni show acknowledged is amazing enough, but WHY oh WHY not go for the LAST night of the tour ??? The 1st and 2nd nights were OK, but that last "magic" night, with it's WTF set list and "everything but the kitchen sink" space, (Thanks, Dan...) was an *incredible end to an incredible tour". WHY pretend it didn't exist ? I'm happy to have the spring tour '90 finally represented properly, (so, well, my kids will eat cereal for a couple of weeks...) (I'm kidding) But, there are some obvious magic moments that have been overlooked. Still. GOOD JOB ! Color me, "218.00 lighter" Joshua

product sku

GRA9900088